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Ultimate ranking of starting hands

This post has been edited 1 time(s), it was last edited by asdertas: 26.08.2016 09:13.

There are a lot of information on the net about which hand and position should we open raise at pre-flop. For example, in 6-max no-limit holdem game, it is generally recommended to open-raise 12% of hands from UTG against standard players. However, these sources are not consistent about which 12% it is. So, when we select our starting hand ranges how do we rank all these 169 hole card combinations? Ranking them according to showdown equity does not seem reasonable enough since in most hands we don't even see the river card. However, ranking them according to flop equity would also miss a lot of the potential of these hands. For example, suited cards would often not be seen reasonably strong as compared with their off-suit counterparts. So, what do you think?

You could basically put top 12% range in Equilab and see what kind of range it gives you.. It would be this:
77+,A9s+,KTs+,QTs+,JTs,ATo+,KJo+

This is not optimal so I would adjust that a bit. Suited hands are better than off-suit hands. I would start opening suited aces from ATs and off-suits from AJo, because those lower kickers are easily dominated. For the same reason I would take KJo out of there. Then I would add more pocket pairs (open maybe 55+) and add some suited connectors also. It gives you a bit wider range than 12% but that is totally fine.

So in general you should avoid easily dominated hands and you should favor suited hands. Even suited one or two gappers are better than off-suit connectors in my opinion

I suppose it boils down to valuing your holding as the game progresses , taking into consideration your position and opponent 's type, and then deciding if he/she is bluffing. You entered the hand in the first place based on your version of the starting hands and the nature of the opponents and your position

I think in 6max only 12% is on the tight side.
PokerSnowie would open over 16%: 55+,A2s+,K9s+,QTs+,J9s+,T9s,ATo+,KJo+
I would open almost 14%: 55+,ATs+,A5s-A2s,KTs+,QTs+,J9s+,T9s,98s,87s,76s,AJo+,KQo

I think Snowie is maybe doing it a bit too wide though. I like to take away some of the dominated hands and add some suited connectors.
But if we put top 12% in equilab, then take off weakest off suit hands and add some suited connectors, imo it is a very good range